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Under new criteria adopted by the State Board of Education, North Carolina students who follow a university-bound course of studies in high school will earn a seal on their diplomas representing their readiness for a four-year university, just as graduates headed for community college or the workplace will have seals reflecting the kinds of classes they have taken. A key part of the seal designations is the level of math achieved by the students, with those who earn a 2.6 GPA and pass algebra II or integrated math III being considered ready for college-level math, as determined by the state board.

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The number of different types of high-school diplomas available to students rose to 95 from 93 between 2014 and 2015, according to a survey of diploma options in all 50 states. Data show eight states require graduates to complete a college- and career-ready path in English-language arts and math.

The North Carolina State Board of Education has adopted new rules for graduation that will affect the number of math courses students must complete. The rules create three paths for graduation -- college-ready, career-ready or both. To earn a college endorsement, students will have to take one additional math class that meets state university enrollment standards.

North Carolina students who follow a university-bound course of studies in high school will earn a seal on their diplomas representing their readiness for a four-year university, just as graduates headed for community college or the workplace will have seals reflecting the kinds of classes they have taken. A key part of the seal designations is the level of math achieved by the students, with those who earn a 2.6 GPA and passed algebra II or integrated math III will be considered ready for college-level math, as determined by the state board of education.

North Carolina will add a seal of college- or career-readiness to the diplomas of high-school graduates, under a bill signed into law this week by Gov. Pat McCrory. Students will earn the seals based on completion of certain courses and a specific grade-point average. Officials have yet to determine the exact qualifications for either diploma seal, which are intended to help students who are bound for college or a vocational career.

New data show that many Michigan high schools are not preparing graduates for college-level learning. The state used standards developed by ACT to determine students' college readiness, finding that less than a tenth of students are college-ready at more than 50% of schools. "Where is the value of that high school diploma if the students walk out the door not knowing how to read and write or do basic math and science?" a state education official asked.